Oct. 29, 2018
11:59 pm JST

Most of India's rail network is ancient and the rolling stock dilapidated and insufficient to carry all the passengers. Many still travel on the roof's of the carriages. Some recent work has been undertaken to introduce new rolling stock and rebuild some of the rail network. To fix this issue will require decades of work and billions of dollars.

The road networks are overused and lack maintenance with many potholes in urbane and built up areas. Dirts roads in small towns and insufficient modern major highways. To fix this will require decades and billions of dollars

The usual troll styled disinformation. The rail network is between semi modern to modern and is modernizing very fast, the metro network is fast eliminating those few local travel on roof type scenarios. The rolling stock is all indigenous, there are four rail coach factories and five locomotive factories, the metro coach factory is coming up and just last week Indian railways showcased the local built high speed train 18, may want to look it up. Full scale modernization is going on and by 2030 will be mostly modern, money is not as issue as most of it is indigenous..

All the expressways are well maintained, and almost all the cities are connected by these expressways, around 10,000 km of roads were constructed this year alone..

Oct. 29, 2018
07:53 pm JST

Oct. 29, 2018
06:23 pm JST

You need to beat any attacker to win even a defensive war. If they take your land or invade you need to go on the offensive to eject them from your cities and your country. They wont leave on their own just because you take up defensive positions.

Oct. 29, 2018
05:41 pm JST

Oct. 29, 2018
04:41 pm JST

Most of India's rail network is ancient and the rolling stock dilapidated and insufficient to carry all the passengers. Many still travel on the roof's of the carriages. Some recent work has been undertaken to introduce new rolling stock and rebuild some of the rail network. To fix this issue will require decades of work and billions of dollars.

The road networks are overused and lack maintenance with many potholes in urbane and built up areas. Dirts roads in small towns and insufficient modern major highways. To fix this will require decades and billions of dollars.

There are water supply issues throughout much of India. Fresh drinking water is not easily accessible to all and farmers battle for water to grow crops every year. Years of work and again billions of dollars to correct this issue.

The electircal supply is stable in some of the bigger cities but even there, in the slums the elctricity supply is only on for a few hours a day. Many outlaying villages still have no electricity supply at all.

All of these issues require much attention and many years of work. China is way ahead in these infrastructure areas and it has taken them decades to get there. I am sure India can get there to if it has the will and the determination. Just not soon.

Oct. 29, 2018
11:22 am JST

India has long had a well known infrastructure deficit, (road, rail, water and electricity supply) and until it manages to get all of those fixed, it will never be the most powerful nation on earth.

Fact Check: India has the 4th largest railway network,and is modernizing very fast, definitely there is no deficit there. The road network is the 2nd largest in the world and is expanding (new expressways), the only deficit are the roads/electricity in the remote rural areas which Modi is rectifying very fast. Also may want to take a look at the nasa pictures of India and China in the night, where do you think is the electricity deficit ?

Indian and Chinese troops squared off high in the Himalayas during a 73-day standoff in summer 2017.

Chinese and Indian troops squared off just a few hundred feet apart.

The standoff intensified day by day. Beijing carried out military exercises in Tibet shortly after it began. Indian troops reinforced their positions, reportedly building bunkers, bringing in artillery and light tanks, and laying land mines to counter a potential Chinese attack.

That border dispute never came to open blows, and the two countries have both tried to mend ties since.

But the border is still disputed, and both sides are still watching each other warily in an area that could easily flare up again.

Oct. 29, 2018
06:43 am JST

Oct. 29, 2018
05:12 am JST

Love india. One of the most ancient civilizations in the world, people are one of the kindest and smartest too, many top 500 companies' CEO are Indians such as Google and Microsoft, etc. Hope in next decade Japan, India and partners can modernize the infrastructure. India is also an emerging power on international stage that can balance the expanding Chinese influence. Which is crucial for Japan.

Oct. 29, 2018
01:57 am JST

Muratafan, what central Kingdom ? I simply reword what Abe said to Chinese people: "It is hoped that through this visit, the two sides will usher in a new era when 'competition is transformed into coordination,'" How do you cooperate without integrate ?

Oct. 29, 2018
01:31 am JST

Akie,

Your Sino-Centrism is showing. 'Japan will be integrated into China's market'. You cannot be serious. I have to say that your attitude perfectly sums up China's attitude towards the rest of the world: EVERYTHING revolves around China. I mean, it is the 'Central Kingdom', isn't it? If you cannot be China's 'friend', China will somehow 'absorb' that country into China.

That attitude is becoming increasingly obvious to the rest of the world and note to Akie: the rest of the FREE world (i.e. democracies not military dictatorships) is on notice.

Just remember, military aggression is often met with...military aggression.

Oct. 28, 2018
10:32 pm JST

Matt Hartwell, UK colonized India, Japan colonized Taiwan, there were wars, and there will be wars, some justified, some not. Read mrtinjp's post. Are Indians and Chinese friends ? why not ? Only Indian people and Chinese people can give a definitive answer.

Oct. 28, 2018
09:57 pm JST

Oct. 28, 2018
09:53 pm JST

India and China have long friendship than most people would know. In fact, during anti-Japan war, many Indians went to China to help Chinese people, some of them even died in the course.

Well if by anti-Japan war you mean the second sino-japanese war, than you are correct, Indian doctors did provide assistance..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarkanath_Kotnis

As for the long friendship, that is also correct, since time immemorial these two countries never had a conflict, only that post second sino-japanese war the communist had different plans, also the Indian pm Nehru was used by the cia types to provoke the chinese by creating the border dispute viz-a-viz the McMahon Line.

Oct. 28, 2018
09:41 pm JST

I said it only the other day, this is why Japan will never, ever be independent. They are busy trying to tell China they want to develop and strengthen ties, then suggest to India they have to work together to counter China’s growth. Japan is an infant in diplomacy.

Oct. 28, 2018
09:21 pm JST

Relations between India and Japan are bound to touch new height during the current visit of PM Modi as there no negatives in our relations but only enormous opportunities to be seized in all spheres of the economies of two countries.

Oct. 28, 2018
09:04 pm JST

The only thing holding India back is their infamous and world famous bureaucracy...

Well Modi has been tackling this very problem from the day he took office and has been very successful, most of the corrupt deadwood at the top has already been forced retired, and now via the lateral entry scheme, professionals from private sector have chance to become bureaucrats.

Oct. 28, 2018
08:33 pm JST

Matt Hartwell, you contradict yourself badly: "a representative democracy that does and will continue to get support from other democracies", yet "infamous and world famous bureaucracy along with what remains of tribalism and the caste system". Is India double faced or what ?

There is no contradiction in that at all.

When I say "infamous and world famous bureaucracy" I am alluding to the fact it is known the world over to be terribly inefficient although I think its improving, slowly.

Oct. 28, 2018
07:19 pm JST

Welcome all contacts between Asian leaders for the promotion of understanding and cooperation towards peace and prosperity. Best wishes for the success of meeting of the two leaders of the two great democratic countries.

Oct. 28, 2018
07:13 pm JST

Welcome, PM Modi! Two great rulers in the photo, looking so happy. Indian people love and look up to Japan, and India is respected a a great nation by Japanese. Beautiful country. Many similarities with Japan: Peace-loving citizens, safe from unrest, biggest democracy in the world, huge booming economy, militaries working together. India is hoping to catch up to Japan in high-tech and IT, and Japan will help it every step of the way as a true partner.

Oct. 28, 2018
06:52 pm JST

englisc aspyrgend, I am sure you are not old than 3000 years, are you ? India and China have long friendship than most people would know. In fact, during anti-Japan war, many Indians went to China to help Chinese people, some of them even died in the course. Dispute ? yes, but wife and husband also dispute a lot, that is reality.

Oct. 28, 2018
06:47 pm JST

Matt Hartwell, you contradict yourself badly: "a representative democracy that does and will continue to get support from other democracies", yet "infamous and world famous bureaucracy along with what remains of tribalism and the caste system". Is India double faced or what ?

Oct. 28, 2018
06:46 pm JST

Akie, why do you harp on about the long dead past.

India sees China as an ongoing threat to its security and economy both on its land borders where the army of the communist party continuously tries to encroach on their border and at sea wher the communist party of china’s naval arm is seeking to surround India and strangle its maritime trade.

Oct. 28, 2018
06:42 pm JST

There is nothing to worry about. It is the fate that eventually Japan will be integrated into China's Market, and India will join hands with China to revive two great civilizations. If Japan and India seriously about cooperation, China is the only bridge to make it happen. Silk road did exactly that 2000 years ago. Indo-Pacific strategy is really about India-China strategy: the combined Market will setup standards that no one can reject.

Given that China has openly stated that not a single inch of historical territory, in their eyes, will be lost, the chances of conflict against India are significant.

There are multiple sources of disputes along their massive border and an entire region/province of India, Arunachal, Pradesh is claimed by China. There is absolutely no way India will give it up, nor the eastern territories below it. Relations with Bhutan is also important.

Hopefully they can get along, but the Indian/Chinese border is second only to Taiwan and North Korea as a potential flash point in Asia imo

One day, India will be the most powerful country in the world and there are multiple reasons why.

far better demographics than China. Soon to have the worlds largest population.

a representative democracy that does and will continue to get support from other democracies.

a culture that focuses on education, much like China

absolutely central geographic position that allows them to dominate the Indian ocean.

the Andaman islands are a key strategic location adjacent to South East Asia.

The only thing holding India back is their infamous and world famous bureaucracy along with what remains of tribalism and the caste system.

Oct. 28, 2018
06:26 pm JST

socrateos, Trump has to do what Trump thinks right, and Xi has to do what Xi thinks right. They both deserve chances to try. If they made mistakes, they will just correct them and move on. That is all great leaders will do.

Oct. 28, 2018
06:19 pm JST

There is nothing to worry about. It is the fate that eventually Japan will be integrated into China's Market, and India will join hands with China to revive two great civilizations. If Japan and India seriously about cooperation, China is the only bridge to make it happen. Silk road did exactly that 2000 years ago. Indo-Pacific strategy is really about India-China strategy: the combined Market will setup standards that no one can reject.

Oct. 28, 2018
06:18 pm JST

Showing a partnership between Japan and India, right after the announcement of Japan-China economic cooperation, is a political message to China and US as well as to the rest of the world that Japan belongs to the free world after all.

I hate Abe and wish his LDP go away, but he may be showing here a better direction for Japan - neither Xi Jiping way nor Trump way.